The normally placid Essential Research fortnightly rolling average records a rare two-point shift on two-party preferred this week, which eliminates a settled 52-48 lead for the Coalition over previous weeks. Particularly remarkable is a three point increase in the Labor primary vote, from 35% to 38%, although the Coalition is down only one to 43%, and the Greens are steady on 10%. Also featured is a very detailed question on Senate reform, in which the legislation was explained to respondents in meticulous detail, producing a result of 53% approval and 16% disapproval. A question on election timing finds 56% wanting the election held later this year versus 23% who want it called early, although the distinction is an increasingly fine one. Also featured: most important election issues (health topping the list, followed by economic and cost-of-living concerns), best party to handle them (Labor for industrial relations and environment, Coalition for national security and the economy, although Labor has a slight lead on housing affordability) and perceptions of the parties as right or left wing (indicating Labor is seen as more centrist than the Coalition, although there is little sense that this has changed in recent years). This week’s poll was conducted online Wednesday to Sunday from a sample of 1017, with the voting intention numbers also including the survey results from the previous week’s poll.
lizzie
Whose facts ma’am.?
C@tmomma@818
Oh, it’s just a non-core promise 😀
Lizzie
I would argue that Abbott is more honourable than Rudd. At least Abbott is being upfront. He is doing speeches and writing pieces for fhe Oz
Can somebody explain to me what power that Bill Shorten has that can parachute a high profile candidate like Pat Dodson into a senate spot. With no disrespect to Pat Dodson, but what has happened to due process and moves to ‘democratise’ the party? And similar yesterday with pictures of Linda Burney with Bill Shorten. Both Dodson and Burney would make a fine contribution to the national parliament but it all seems ‘all over red rover’ as it would be a bad look:
1. Try to stop a high profile indigenous candidate
2. Go against the leader in an election year.
Will we see ‘celebrity’ candidate wheeled out again 2016?
And doesn’t Labor have a fine record with them – Kernot, McKew, Garrett.
Interview with Pat Dodson:
[After a lifetime spent trying to shape Indigenous policy from outside Parliament, Professor Dodson – who knocked back an approach from Labor under Kim Beazley – says now is the time to enter the tent.
But how will the outspoken former chairman of the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation, and Australia’s first ordained Indigenous Catholic priest, curb his forthright views and toe the party line?
“The opportunity for debate discussion and argument is alive and well within the Labor Party. But once there’s a concluded view … then that’s the consensus you are part of,” he said.
“My job will be to try and mitigate the most detrimental consequences that may arise. [But] generally I think the Labor Party is empathetic to the broad area of concern I’ve got.”]
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/patrick-dodson-alp-senate-nomination-a-brave-man-going-into-a-white-mans-world-20160302-gn8byy.html#ixzz41jIlL6JA
Follow us: @smh on Twitter | sydneymorningherald on Facebook
Good point
Rowan
[Rowan – @FightingTories
Pyne
Roy
Brough
Robert
‘ Leaker ‘
Some of the liberals under AFP investigation.]
Lenore Taylor Christens Abbott as Rudd 2.0
http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/mar/02/malcolm-turnbull-faces-enemy-within-as-ministers-compare-abbotts-white-anting-with-rudds
bbp
Bullock resigned. Casual senate position was able to be filled immediately. What is the issue with that. Happens all the time with all parties
Lizzie@793
[In a very poor community, entering the Catholic Church would have been one method of guaranteeing a better education, wouldn’t it?]
Yep, absolutely. My very bright mother left school at 14 to become a Shorthand/Typist, which actually back in 1949 was not a bad occupation. However, she was offered the chance of staying at school because she was bright, but only if she became a Nun. She said no.
However, on my Father’s side, three of my grandfather’s sisters, my great aunts, became in turn Mothers’ Superior of the Sisters of Mercy in Australia and the Pacific. Unlike the Cocky’s wives, which would otherwise been their destiny, they did not have endless children, and by the time I and my cousins were at Catholic schools in NSW in the 1960s, my great aunts were gaily driving brand new white Holdens around the countryside, and it was an exciting time for us when they would inspect the schools that we attended.
We kids would become celebrities for an hour or two (but this may explain the torture and hated the rest of the time) and then we would be whisked off in that magical modern Holden, for tea at home, as the Mothers’ superior visited our parents. We used to call them Mother Alexis’ half holidays.
I apologise if I have previously told this family story on Poll Bludger, but at one stage a second cousin, whose aunts had also joined the Sisters of Mercy but had lived fairly uneventful lives, not rising up the convent hierarchy, said to my uncle “When my aunts when into the convent it was for a vocation, when your aunts when into the convent it was for a career!
So, yes, Pat Dodson may have taken the best opportunity available to him to get an education.
Pat Dodson is associated with my current workplace, and I was doing some googling today to clarify the relationship. I then came across Mick Dodson, his brother. They are a couple of very smart guys, propelled into education when they became orphaned at around 13 years of age, but some very savvy sisters.
victoria
In one sense, yes, you’re right. Abbott just wants to get back into power. Rudd wanted revenge.
Greens senator Robert Simms was elected by a ballot of SA Greens members to fill the casual vacancy created following the resignation of Senator Penny Wright.
Lizzie
Rudd wanted power as well
Does anyone know what Pat Dodson’s stance on marriage equality is?
victoria
Oh yes, but there was that extra frisson of pleasure at bringing ‘the bogan’ down.
Victoria @ 858
But Pat Dodson himself has said he wasn’t even a member of the party.. yes casual vacancies are filled but there is usually a process.
William@797
[Pretty much every country in Europe has voluntary voting, and I can’t say I’ve ever noticed Angela Merkel or David Cameron doing much in the way of “pandering to right-wing extremists”.]
Interesting point. I guess it comes down to the local culture.
But you can see any reason why compulsory voting is a bad idea?
Peg,He said this today
[The debate between church and state has gone on for millennia. And the questions of the custodians of the morals of individuals is a real problematic issue. Of course, the respect for human dignity is also a very important factor. And I think in the case of conscience votes, well that’s a matter for people to make their own minds up and to live by their consciences and I respect those that do so, who may have a different view.
But when it comes to our civil society or the society we live in, any discrimination or disadvantage caused to people who make their own choices then as a parliament we should try to eliminate those in order to facilitate the quality of life that individuals want to pursue.]
bbp
Process is that the party is only required to put forward one nomination for the vacancy to be filled and then approved by a joint sitting
Peg,He said this today
[The debate between church and state has gone on for millennia. And the questions of the custodians of the morals of individuals is a real problematic issue. Of course, the respect for human dignity is also a very important factor. And I think in the case of conscience votes, well that’s a matter for people to make their own minds up and to live by their consciences and I respect those that do so, who may have a different view.
But when it comes to our civil society or the society we live in, any discrimination or disadvantage caused to people who make their own choices then as a parliament we should try to eliminate those in order to facilitate the quality of life that individuals want to pursue.]
BK
Good link!
I believe though that he said it only the once
George Pell probably thinks of himself as a good man. But what’s the saying? Evil flourishes when good men do nothing. Especially if they don’t want to see it.
Peg@863,
[Does anyone know what Pat Dodson’s stance on marriage equality is?]
Yes, he is in favour if it.
Sounds like fun!
Kieran Gilbert @Kieran_Gilbert 1h1 hour ago
I’m told Turnbull, Abbott, Howard & Costello all on the same table for tonight’s 20th anniversary of Howard govt dinner at parliament
Pegasus @ 863,
He’s for it. However, the man’s own eloquent words put it so much better:
Financial Review @FinancialReview 3m3 minutes ago
Abbott and Turnbull’s rivalry has blown up as fast as a family brawl after Xmas day lunch http://bit.ly/1oOoL2J
Douglas and Milko http://blogs.crikey.com.au/pollbludger/2016/03/02/senate-reform-reformed/#comment-2345661 Yes, Pat & Mick went to Monivae College in Hamilton , Western Vic. after losing mum.
Pat became school captain. Pretty rare thing at a major whitefella college in the 1960s!
Back in the early 80s I spent a fair amount of time with both: Pat at Central Land Council and Mick through Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service when working on the Guindij Mara / Alcoa case . Two fine men. Pretty hard to beat. Labor is very lucky to get Pat to accept.
Sounds like a fun evening!
Kieran Gilbert @Kieran_Gilbert 1h1 hour ago
I’m told Turnbull, Abbott, Howard & Costello all on the same table for tonight’s 20th anniversary of Howard govt dinner at parliament
Blackburnseph@865
[Victoria @ 858
But Pat Dodson himself has said he wasn’t even a member of the party.. yes casual vacancies are filled but there is usually a process.]
I for one welcome our new insect overlords….
But seriously, the ALP is following the recommendation of the Faulkner, Carr and Bracks report into the horror result of the 2010 Federal election.
Getting people into the parliament on the ALP side, who have had strong and varied career outside politics is a way of strengthening the progressive side of politics. And if they were not party members? Who cares, as long as they are signing up because they support progressive politics. And I will challenge anyone to dispute than in the case of Dodson and Burney.
Greg Jericho @GrogsGamut 25s25 seconds ago
Tony Abbott reborn as Rudd 2.0 as Turnbull’s worst nightmare comes to pass http://gu.com/p/4h8vg/stw
Rod@877
[Douglas and Milko http://blogs.crikey.com.au/pollbludger/2016/03/02/senate-reform-reformed/#comment-2345661 Yes, Pat & Mick went to Monivae College in Hamilton , Western Vic. after losing mum.
Pat became school captain. Pretty rare thing at a major whitefella college in the 1960s!
Back in the early 80s I spent a fair amount of time with both: Pat at Central Land Council and Mick through Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service when working on the Guindij Mara / Alcoa case . Two fine men. Pretty hard to beat. Labor is very lucky to get Pat to accept.]
Thanks so much for this information. This is one reason I love Poll Bludger. All us political tragics can put together a wealth of information that could never otherwise be easily found.
I always thought + hoped Abbott would go the full monty when he was booted. Hopefully he hasn’t warmed up yet, just strapping on the gloves & putting the mouth guard in before he gives Mal one he’ll never forget. At least you can see or know it’s happening with Abbott.
Rudd was worse in a way like a “wet willy”, slightly gross and unexpected.
I’m told Turnbull, Abbott, Howard & Costello all on the same table for tonight’s 20th anniversary of Howard govt dinner at parliament
Rudd’s and Gillard’s invitations got lost in the mail.
mikehilliard,
😀 😀 😀
Hmm.
Abbott sat in the backbenches, looking grim and hair dishevelled. He insists he doesn’t leak or background. Equally grim-faced was Abbott’s former defence minister Kevin Andrews who sits next to Abbott in parliament.
Karma is a bitch.
Emily Smith @Emily_SmithDM 5h5 hours ago
Michael Roche will be asking @AnnastaciaMP to reduce amount of royalties mining companies have to pay during meeting today @daily_mercury
[850
blackburnseph
Not necessarily – however the thought of it to the ALP would make the recent shrill and hysterical carrying on of Wong and Conroy over senate voting reform seem quite demure. No longer would Labor be able to rely on a steady flow of Greens preferences – the Greens having the power to provide or withhold as the case may be. Labor being much dependent on preferences from the Left than the Libs from the right.]
Are you suggesting that Greens voters would actively spoil Labor’s chances of winning, and instead help a conservative government get elected?
And you wonder why Labor doesn’t trust the Greens! Contemptible stuff.
Michael Roche will be asking @AnnastaciaMP to reduce amount of royalties mining companies have to pay during meeting today @daily_mercury
I hope Annastacia told them to get stuffed.
Elliott Dunn @ebie_hd 1h1 hour ago
Liberal MP Trent Zimmerman calls George Christensen’s comments on Safe Schools program ‘deliberately inflammatory’ on @RNDrive
Thank you for your responses to my question.
Confirms what I thought was the case based on his positions re civil rights, etc.
Just because Pat Dodson was once a catholic priest doesn’t preclude him from being pro marriage equality.
Just pushing against the stereotype 🙂
Sohar @ 847 – is P J Keating the guest speaker?
Tom.
Steve777 @888:
[Michael Roche will be asking @AnnastaciaMP to reduce amount of royalties mining companies have to pay during meeting today @daily_mercury
I hope Annastacia told them to get stuffed.]
Jeezus, what more do the mining barons want? Subsidies to dig up one-time wealth and ship it overseas? Oh, wait – they already get those!
And their books are chock-full of tax-dodging “goodness”, as exposed by an audit of their books!
Breathtaking breach of basic responsibility from ex-PM:
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/breathtaking-breach-of-basic-responsibility-from-an-expm-20160302-gn8rns.html
I wish tones would shut up until the next election campaign. He’s overplaying his hand and could get booted
Both Dodsons got scholarships to the Vic RC boarding school as 12 year olds after they were tragically orphaned. Probly were RCs already, given the missionary zeal at the time.
Pat left the priesthood after failed efforts to have Aboriginal spirituality in some way recognised by the RCs, and also because of his contrary views about celibacy.
Both brothers’ CVs are extraordinary.
Any sensible party would actively recruit PD. Shorten is sensible.
Parachuting candidates in is always preferrable to branch selection and associated parochialism, factionalism, and small picture perspective, when manifestly excellent candidates are involved.
The alternative is cutting off the nose to spite the face.
“Sohar @ 847 – is P J Keating the guest speaker?” No, but Hawke wouldn’t surprise me.
Poor George Pell. Everyone conspired to keep him in the dark, like that guy in “The Truman Show”.
George Pell’s ‘implausible deniability’: http://www.smh.com.au/victoria/comment-cardinal-george-pells-day-of-implausible-deniability-20160302-gn8d93.html
Sky News Australia @SkyNewsAust 4m4 minutes ago
Minister Fifield tells .@ljayes that ‘anyone who leaks classified information isn’t trying to be helpful’ #TheLatest
[Bullock resigned. Casual senate position was able to be filled immediately. What is the issue with that. Happens all the time with all parties]
Presumably the WA branch has to run a process, just the PM has captains called so as to ensure they don’t have a choice.
Freedom of the Press @FreedomofPress 9h9 hours ago
We’re among the 500 condemning Sweden and UK for refusing to accept the UN ruling on WikiLeaks editor Julian Assange http://diem25.org/urging-sweden-and-the-uk-to-free-julian-assange/ …